Improved gasket-handle



uitrit tutes getraut ,ffira WILLIAM DI. SMITH, OF WEST MERIDEN, lOONNECIICUT, ASSIGNOR TO HILWISELF AND THE MERIDEN BRITANNIA.' COMPANY, OF THE SAME PLACE.

Letters Patent No. 70,759, dated November 12, 1867.

i @its tlgehtlt tefertthtn im time trttrt rttnt mit mating part nf tige smite.

-TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONOERN:

Beit known that I, WILLIAM M. SMITH, ot' West Meriden, county of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Attachments for Casket-Handles; and to enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, I will proceed to describe, referring to the drawings, in which, the

'same letters indicate like parts in each of the figures.

The nature of this improvement consists in forming depressions in the-back side of the lifting-plate, directly back of the lower screw-holes, (provided for fastening said plates with the handle to the body of a casket,) to

receive the tag ot` the attachment, representing, .by cord and tassel, emblems, characters, or designs, signi-V fying orders, brotherhood society, or body of persons associated together for: mutual benefit.

The object designed to' be accomplished thereby is, to save the trouble and expense of making an entire set of patterns or moulds, having the desired insignia made thereon; and, more important-still, to save the greatl amount ot' stock and labor arising from breakage-in the process of nishing, transporting, and handling.

In the accompanying drawings, A is 'a casket-handle. B are the'lifting-plates in which the handles are secured. O are screw-holes formed in the upper and lower edges of said plates, through which screws pass into the body of the casket to hold the plates with the handle thereto. D are cord and tassel-attachments, reprosenting variousy other emblems,-insignia, or ornamental design. These insignia attachments are provided with tags E, the shape of which is designed to correspond with the shape of the lower edge oi' the plates B and the depressions formed in the back side of the plates 4B directlyl back of the lower screw-holes C.v

Now, it will be clearly seen that whenr the handlelA,vwith theplate B, is secured to the body oi' a casket lby screws passing through the holes C in the p'late'lif at any time it isdCsirable to attach any insignia thereto, it can be easily done by simply removing the lower screws at C and inserting the tag Elot said insignia attachment into the depression formed in the back side of the plates B, near the lower edge, and directly back of the holes C', then replacing the screw through the plate B and tag E into the body of,V the casket, when they will become securely attached to the plates by the joint action of the screws, and the formation ofthe tag and depressions for receiving' the same. Thus a great variety of styles can be quickly audeasily produced. The

handles can be used either with or without the attachments, without any disiigurenient thereof'or in. any way' affecting their symmetrical appearance. e I believe I 'have thus shown the nature, construction, and advantage of this improvement, sc as to enable others skilled to make and use the same therefrom.

What I claim, therefore, and desire' to securevby Letters Patent, is The employment of attachments D, or their equivalents, having tags E, in combination' with the depressions formed in theplates B, substantially as and for the purpose described. WM. M. SMITH. [n.' 5.]

Witnesses:

J. E. MERRIMAN, HENRY J: Cannon. 

